NOAH WEBSTER.

lected ; the legislators of antiquity are con-
sulted, as well as the opinions and interests
of the millions who are concerned. In short,
it is an empire of reason." In all this there
is a flurry of enthusiasm which was not con-
fined to Webster.

Later still, in 1793, he was placed in a
more responsible position, as editor of a new
daily newspaper in New York. He had
been writing under the signature of Candor
in the " Courant" upon the French Revolu-
tion, taking a somewhat Gallican position,
when he chanced to meet Genet at dinner
in New York. Conversation with that gen-
tleman caused a change in his views, and it
was during this visit to New York that Mr.
James Watson proposed to him to establish
a newspaper there in the defense of Wash-
ington's administration. With his ardent
attachment to Washington, and his adhe-
sion generally to the federal party, he ac-
cepted the invitation, and established the
"American Minerva," which subsequently
became the " New York Commercial Ad-
vertiser." In-conducting the paper he in-
troduced an economical device, which was
novel at the time, but has since become an